Appomattox, VA - Appomattox Court House NHP, the Appomattox 1865 Foundation, and the North Carolina School of Traditional Music will feature the 6 th Annual Joel Sweeney and the Banjo Festival at the park on Saturday, September 7 th from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. The day will be filled with music that reflects the legacy and influence of Joel Sweeney and the banjo in American music. This year’s festival features Grammy-Winner and two-time Emmy nominee Dom Flemons as its headline act at 4:00 p.m. and a noon dedication of the new Virginia State Historical Marker to Black Banjoists along the banks of the Appomattox River. Flemons is one of the founding members of the African American string band the Carolina Chocolate Drops, and he is a music scholar, historian, and an expert player on the banjo, fife, guitar, harmonica, jug, quills, and rhythm bones. The new state historical marker is the first of its kind to recognize the unknown African American musicians who taught the traditional African banjo to Joel Sweeney, the white musician who brought the instrument to the world stage.
Other events include a guided tour of the Charles Sweeney Cabin and a concert by the Sweeney Players, a group of musicians from the North Carolina School of Traditional Music and friends who specialize in playing Sweeney-era songs.
The schedule is as follows:
10:00-2:00 Charles Sweeney Cabin open to visitors with music and interpretation
10:00-10:45 Guided tour of the Charles Sweeney Cabin
11:30 Park Shuttle to Marker Dedication begins (departing from main visitor lot)
Noon: Dedication of Historical Marker to Black Banjoists
1:00-2:00 Early Banjo Performances throughout the village.
3:00-5:00 Concert featuring Dom Flemons and opening act the Sweeney Players
Join us for this free day of entertainment, and explore the roots of the banjo and American music at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park!
-NPS-
About Appomattox Court House National Historical Park: On April 9, 1865, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia signaled the end of the nation's largest war.
The stories of Appomattox Court House go far beyond the final significant battles of this nation's Civil War. Learn more at www.nps.gov/apco.
About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.
About The Appomattox 1865 Foundation: The mission of the Appomattox 1865 Foundation is to enrich the understanding and appreciation of the heritage and significance of Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. The Foundation focuses on efforts to preserve the past, augment financial support, commemorate history and enhance each and every visitor’s experience
Joel Sweeney and the Banjo Festival
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
